Made for and from Australia’s Finest Botanicals
Crafting copper stills for essential oils and hydrosols, Kensington Oil Distillery was born from the hands of makers and the hearts of gardeners. Founded by Cynthia Strawson and Loren Daoust, our oil distillery grew out of a shared belief that plants are powerful — and that working with them connects us to something timeless, grounding, and good.
Loren and Cynthia’s partnership combines craftsmanship and curiosity, art and alchemy. They share a vision of sustainability that begins right where they are — foraging and distilling local botanicals, working by hand, and creating tools and products that honour both people and their places.
Copper Stills
Kensington Oil Distillery handcrafts modular copper stills for distilling botanicals to create essential oils and hydrosols. Customers select the pot, column, and condenser that best suits their needs, and will receive a complete kit with all fittings required to assemble a high-quality, ready-to-use copper still.
Distillation Services
Kensington Oil Distillery specializes in small-batch essential oil distillation, processing 1–5 kg of plant material at a time. Using high-quality copper stills that are designed and hand-built in-house specifically for essential oil production, each distillation honours the unique character of the plants and the garden they come from.
Small-batch processing allows growers and distillers to harvest throughout the year, creating distillations that reflect seasonal changes and each garden’s individual personality. Every distillation produces both aromatic hydrosol (distilled floral water) and a small yield of essential oil, which can be used to create DIY skincare, natural cleaning products, room fresheners, and other aromatherapy creations.
Essential Oils & Hydrosols
Kensington Oil Distillery produces small-batch essential oils and hydrosols distilled from fresh, seasonal plant material.
Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic extracts used in aromatherapy, natural skincare, and household products, while hydrosols are the gentle, water-based distillates valued for their soothing, fragrant, and versatile properties.
Our products reflect the natural rhythm of the garden and are available only when plants are in season, ensuring each distillation captures the true character of the harvest.